How to Add a New Idea in the TIP Tool?

Ready to capture your next big innovation? Great – let’s walk through how you can add a new idea in the TIP Tool™, step by step.

Step 1: Click the “Add Idea” Button

First things first – log into the TIP Tool^TM and look for the “Add Idea” button on your “Idea Manager” dashboard on the top left. This opens up the idea form where you’ll enter all the details.

🔍 Tip: If you don’t see the button, check your user role — only users with idea creation rights can add ideas.

Step 2: Assign an Idea Number to your Invention Disclosure

Once the form opens, you’ll notice an Idea Number field. Now this one is not a mandatory field. Unless you follow a specific ways to number ideas at your enterprise, you can just use the idea numbers auto-generated by the tool as:

• Format: Year – Sequence Number – Stage Code
  Example: 25-0006-CAP
  • 25: Year 2025
  • 0006: This is your 6th idea this year
  • CAP: The current stage (Capture Phase)

Step 3: Give Your Idea a Title (Required)

Next up: the Title field.

This is a required field – and for good reason. It helps everyone on your team quickly understand what the idea is about.

Keep it short, clear, and meaningful.

Good: “AI-Driven Performance Optimizer for IoT Devices” Avoid: “Stuff we talked about in the meeting”

Step 4: Add Inventor Emails (Required)

Enter your email address if you are the sole inventor. If there are other inventors collaborating with you on this idea, here is how you can go about it:.

• Enter their email addresses – if they’re already users, they’ll be linked right away.
  
• If they’re not yet on the TIP Tool^TM, they’ll get an invite email once the idea is published.

🔐 Note: Until you publish the idea, only you can see it.

Step 5: Assign a Manager (Optional)

If your organization uses manager-level approvals , you can assign a manager here.

• Just start typing their name — if they have manager rights, they’ll appear in the dropdown.
  
• You can also leave this blank and assign a manager later.

📌 Managers will be notified once the idea is published.

Step 6: Write a Summary

Now it’s time to describe your innovation. The Summary is your chance to explain:

• What the idea does
  
• What problem it solves
  
• Why it’s unique or valuable

This is a free-text field, so you can format it however you’d like. You can also link or reference attachments.

Need help writing your summary?

👉 See our guide: How to Write an Idea Summary→

Step 7: Set the Value and Patentability Scores (Optional)

These two fields help your team prioritize ideas:

• Value Score: How important is this idea to your business?
  
• Patentability Score: What are the chances of getting a patent granted?

You can fill these in now or leave them for a manager or counsel to assess later.

👉 Learn more:

• Value Score →
  
• Patentability Score →

Step 8: Add a Filing Deadline (Optional)

Got an important event related to the idea coming up? Maybe a conference, product launch date, or prior disclosure?

Use this field to let your team know. This can help prioritize your idea in the pipeline.

Step 9: Upload Supporting Documents

At the bottom of the form, you’ll find two upload sections:

#1. Disclosure: Upload any material that helps explain the idea – slides, PDFs, diagrams, even videos or voice recordings.

Down below you see the options “Existing Application” and “Choose From Uploaded Files”. If the idea or files are already there that you want to select or refer to.

#2. Application: Use this if you’re attaching a draft patent application or prior filing. Later, this section will be used for exchanging drafts with counsel.

Down below you see the options “Existing Application” and “Choose From Uploaded Files”. If the idea or files are already there that you want to select or refer to.

Step 10: Save or Publish

You’re almost there!

• Click “Save” to keep the idea in draft mode – only you can see it.
  
• Click “Publish” when you’re ready to share the idea with inventors, managers, or your IP team.

Once published, they’ll(emails you have entered) get notified and can collaborate with you inside the TIP Tool^TM.

💡 Pro Tips: Use clear, consistent titles so you can easily search and reference ideas.Don’t worry if it’s not perfect – you can update the idea anytime.Keep your draft ideas saved while you gather more details.